Information for record number MWA5837:
Evaluation of Rectory site, Butter St, Alcester

Summary A section of the defences around the Roman town of Alcester was found during an excavation in Butter Street.
What Is It?  
Type: Defence, Rampart
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Alcester
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 57
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 In September 1991 an evaluation was carried out by the Warwickshire Museum on the site of a proposed new rectory, in Butter Street, Alcester. The trial trench revealed deposits of Roman date including a feature which may be the rampart of the 2nd century Roman defences.
2 In August 1994 an archaeological observation was carried out by the Warwickshire Museum in connection with the construction of a new rectory and garage. The excavation of 3 trenches, to take drains and wall foundations, and 1 square pit was subsequently observed and the resulting spoil again examined for archaeological remains. The stone foundations of two walls of Roman date, probably from separate structures, were recorded. These were overlain by Post Medieval garden soils.
3 In 1996 a further watching brief was carried out on the excavation of foundation trenches for an extension. These were cut into loosely packed building make up, probably from the construction trenches of the existing building, and no archaeological features were observed or finds recovered.`
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: New Rectory and Garage at Butter Street, Alcester
Author/originator: Warwickshire Museum
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation and Recording at the New Rectory, Butter Street, Alcester
Author/originator: Gethin B & Jones C
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: The Rectory, Butter St, Alcester
Author/originator: Wright, K & Jones, R
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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technique Trial Trench A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE * Use only for features assumed to be archaeological but which cannot be identified more precisely without further investigation .Use more specific term where known back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument RAMPART * A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOWN * An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government. back
monument GARAGE * Use only for buildings which house motor vehicles. Includes garages for vehicle repair. For petrol sales use PETROL STATION. back
monument CONSTRUCTION TRENCH * A trench dug in order to receive the foundations of a structure such as a stone wall etc. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record